The Yingde-Huaiji section of the Longchuan-Huaiji project of the Shantou-Kunming Expressway has progressed smoothly since construction began in late 2015. Recently, the Niutang extra-long tunnel, a controlling works of the expressway, achieved dual-bore breakthrough, and the project is expected to be delivered on schedule by the end of the year. Once the expressway opens to traffic, the journey from Yingde to Huaiji will take only 1.5 hours, saving 2.5 hours compared with existing travel options.
According to the construction contractor, the Niutang extra-long tunnel is located in the Taoyuan Yanzhiyan Nature Reserve in Jintan Town, Qingxin District, Qingyuan City, and in Yangmei Town, Yangshan County, with a total length of 3,805 meters. The tunnel lies in a karst development area and is the longest tunnel in Guangdong Province passing through a karst region. Its hydrogeological conditions are complex, and construction safety risks are extremely high. The contractor has integrated the concept of building a quality project into the entire process of project construction management, including quality, safety, environmental protection, innovation and institutional development, to accelerate project construction. At present, the subgrade earthwork of the entire project is 98.2% complete, bridge pile foundations 98.3%, bridge piers and columns 92.4%, precast girders 81.2%, tunnels 92.2%, and pavement works 10%.
According to reports, once the entire Longhuai project of the Shantou-Kunming Expressway opens to traffic, it will become the first east-west expressway in northern Guangdong and will join nine north-south expressways, including the Erguang and Jingzhu expressways, to form an extensive expressway network. It is of extremely great significance for promoting the coordinated development of eastern, western and northern Guangdong.
It is understood that, according to the current construction progress, the Yingde-Huaiji section of the Longhuai project of the Shantou-Kunming Expressway can be completed and opened to traffic on schedule by the end of 2018. At that time, the expressway will provide eastward access to Shaoguan and Shantou and westward access to Huaiji, Hezhou and Guilin. Currently, traveling from Yingde to Huaiji requires about 250 kilometers of local roads and takes about 4 hours. After opening, the route will be about 135 kilometers and take about 1.5 hours, shortening the journey by 2.5 hours.
It is reported that the Longhuai project is an important component of the Shantou-Kunming Expressway in the national expressway network plan, the "7918" expressway network, and is also the first horizontal line in the main framework of Guangdong Province's "ten vertical, five horizontal and two ring" expressway network plan. It is a major east-west transportation artery across northern Guangdong. The Yingde-Huaiji section starts in Jintan Town, Qingxin District, Qingyuan City, and runs from east to west through Shitan Town in Qingxin District, Yangmei Town in Yangshan County, and Fenggang Town and Wenlang Town in Huaiji County, Zhaoqing City, ending at a connection with the Erguang Expressway. The project is about 88.8 kilometers long, and the entire line is built to a two-way, four-lane expressway standard with a design speed of 100 kilometers per hour.